Key Vote in Support of Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act

Date: November 19, 2013

November 19, 2013

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, I am writing in strong support of H.R. 2728, the Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act. Final passage of H.R. 2728 will be considered an NFIB Key Vote for the 113th Congress.

More than ever, small businesses need a sensible regulatory scheme that removes unnecessary barriers to grow. NFIB’s November 2013 Small Business Economic Trends survey reported that the single most important problem facing small business owners is government regulations and red tape. H.R. 2728 addresses this problem directly by removing the regulatory hurdles that the federal government places in energy production.

The cost of energy remains one of the top concerns of small business owners, who rely on affordable energy to operate their businesses successfully. According to the 2012 edition of NFIB’s Small Business Problems and Priorities, “Cost of Natural Gas, Propane, Gasoline, Diesel, Fuel Oil” ranked as the third-most important priority among NFIB’s members. Nearly 35 percent of respondents cited energy costs as a “critical” issue to their business. Additionally, according to NFIB’s Energy Consumption poll, energy costs are one of the top three business expenses in 35 percent of small businesses. Providing more affordable energy will directly help small businesses reduce the impact high energy prices have on their business.

Small businesses have watched with dismay as the administration continues to delay approval of the much needed Keystone XL pipeline project, and do not want to see the same delays with hydraulic fracturing. H.R. 2728 addresses this problem by prohibiting enforcement of federal regulations on federal lands in states that puts in place its own regulations, guidance or permitting requirements.

NFIB urges you to support final passage of H.R. 2728 and will consider it an NFIB Key Vote for the 113th Congress.